Sometimes interpretation is a trap. Sometimes we need to simply observe.

Falling in Love with Hominids by Nalo Hopkinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nalo Hopkinson covers so much ground in this short story collection that perhaps it's easier to list what she doesn't accomplish in these tales:

1) Reinforce stereotypes of how the protagonist of a fantasy story should look/act/dress.
2) Sugar-coat the fact that painful and unjust things can happen.
3) Make anyone feel powerless over point #2.

In the preface of the book, Hopkinson talks about how these stories grew out of a change in perspective that she'd experienced, from a teen pessimistic about the seemingly incurable injustices that she'd witnessed, to a woman doing her part to help solve these problems. The efforts of herself and others helped her to feel more positive about humanity's prospects, in spite of all the pain that she remained aware of. The business of doing good can be a complicated, difficult thing. Nobody is expected to carry it out perfectly, but nor is anyone exempt from having to try - and this is an idea that the characters here grapple with, each in a unique way.

Hopkinson is a master of dropping clues that at first seem innocuous, but which unmistakably reach a critical mass, at which point the reader just knows that something's up - and it's only a question of how dangerous that something is going to become. And you never know the answer ahead of time, because Hopkinson's imagination is boundless and unencumbered by distinctions between sub-genres. Ghosts? Nature spirits? Time-traveling museum curators? Or post-apocalyptic horrors? Whatever your preference, this book has a story for you. If you enjoy the likes of Neil Gaiman's work - fantasy percolating through reality in mysterious ways, often dark but never fully devoid of light - this book might be up your alley.

To list just a few favorites:

Message in a Bottle. The never-ending question of what each generation will cherish about the past - or alternatively, the question of how far a child will go in trying to manipulate an adult.

The Smile on the Face. A teenage girl, struggling to accept herself, goes to a party where not everyone wishes her well. The consequences are stunning. And can I say how refreshing it is to read about two women of different shapes who learn to appreciate each other as well as themselves? Additionally, I love Hopkinson's ability to create non-human characters.

Emily Breakfast. It gets off to a sweet start, but given the grisly nature of several of the other stories here, I raced through it in a panic, knowing that something horrible might rear its head at any moment.

A Young Candy Daughter. Hopkinson sums it up best: I'm not the only person who's ever asked the question, "What if God was one of us?" But maybe "us" looks a little different from my side of the sandbox.

As with most collections, there are some stories that struck me as rough spots that aren't at the same level as the ones above. But even in these cases, I still admire the ideas behind them.

I loved the little introductions that Hopkinson gives before each piece, which hint at the origins of the story. She seems like the kind of person whose imagination can latch on to any image or word or sound, growing it from a seemingly mundane seed into a spectacularly blossoming vision of what a different reality could be like.

View all my reviews